Kagewerks, Inc. v. Kalasho CA4/1

I.

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs Kagewerks, Inc., and Kevin Whaley, the president and chief executive

officer of Kagewerks, Inc. (jointly Kagewerks), appeal from an order of the trial court

granting a special motion to strike the fourth through eighth causes of action in

Kagewerks's complaint against Bessmon Kalasho and Wize Guys, Inc. (jointly the

defendants),1 pursuant to the anti-SLAPP statute, Code of Civil Procedure2 section

425.16.

Kagewerks filed this action after a dispute arose between Whaley and Kalasho

over some damage that Whaley asserted had been caused to his truck when he took the

truck to Kalasho's business to be cleaned and detailed. The incidents that led up to this

litigation include a heated argument between Whaley and Kalasho, a dispute over

payment, and, ultimately, some negative reviews of Kagewerks on Yelp.3 Kagewerks

alleges that the negative reviews were posted either by the defendants, or by someone

acting in concert with the defendants, in retaliation for Whaley's complaints and his

refusal to pay for the truck detailing.

The defendants were sued under aliases and "doing business as" entities, as well.

Further…